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NOAA works to map an earth in motion

Dru Smith, chief geodesist, NOAA

Dozens of federal agencies produce maps or charts of one kind or another. To say nothing of all the state and local agencies who also make maps. Their efforts are going to change dramatically. That's because they all depend on what's known as geodetic control supplied by a small office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This office, the National Geodetic Survey, is on a long-term plan to update the reference coordinates it supplies the other agencies. Here with details is the chief geodesist at NOAA, Dr. Dru Smith.